To Hate My Stepbrother

Mason’s POV

Ryan’s question made me live the whole moment again in my head and it was horrible. Sighing, I explained everything to him.

I watched as his expressions changed with each scene that I described and soon his shock and fear became really visible on his face.

“It really is crazy, I thought things like this only happened in movies. Never thought it even happens in the real world.” He commented.

“You really should make sure she gets punished for this because what she did is just harsh and inhumane. Bad things could’ve happened and not only Ava but you and the kid could’ve been badly hurt.” He added and he was right.

The right thing for me to do was to let Aisha be punished but what was I going to tell her son who was pleading on her behalf?

I explained Khalid’s situation to Ryan who felt pity for the child like anyone would. No kid should have to be punished by having a mother like Aisha.

“Khalid begging on her behalf doesn’t matter. No one would tell him and that way he’ll have no idea.” He advised me and I nodded in understanding and agreement to what he’d just suggested.

My dad and Ava’s mother came in when Ryan and I were still talking and the first person I sought solace in was Ava’s mother.

The hug was warm and I felt really bad because everyone was gathered here at the hospital because something bad had happened.

I’d thought that the next time a gathering would happen would be for a good cause but this was way far from that.

Releasing myself from her embrace, I hugged my dad who patted my back as he asked if I was alright and I nodded. I couldn’t tell him that I felt bad, I felt incompetent because I could have avoided all of these and no one would’ve been in danger.

“Take me to Khalid first please.” Ava’s mom asked and I led her to the children’s ward.

We got to his bed and he was fast asleep. I watched as Ava’s mom leaned closer to him to kiss his forehead and stroke his hair lightly before walking out with me.

“You know, you shouldn’t beat yourself up so much because of all of these,” she started, “not even you could stop this from happening, it was meant to happen.” She added and it was almost as if she could hear my thoughts.

“You should be happy everyone is fine,” she continued with a reassuring smile, “don’t feel guilty because really there are some things we have no control over and this instance is one of them. I know that if you could, you would have averted the whole thing but well, it is what it is.” She finished with a sigh.

Her words were touching and she was right, all I’ve been doing was blaming myself and feeling guilty the whole time that I didn’t think to be grateful that things didn’t escalate into something worse.

“Thank you for saving my daughter.” She added after a while of silence and something about the way she said that caused my heart to be heavier than it initially was.

“I don’t know what I’d have done if something bad happened to her,” I started without holding myself back and let the tears fall freely.

“I should’ve been there, I shouldn’t have allowed Aisha to get so into our family and now Ava is laying weak on that bed…” I sniffed before Ava’s mum pulled me into her.

Holding her tightly, I let out all of the tears I’ve been holding back for days on her shoulder while she only held me and listened to all my broken self had to say until I had nothing more to say.

“How are you feeling now?” She asked with a sweet smile when I finally let go of her and I nodded positively.

I felt better than four days ago, than the day I found out that Ava could be in danger and I was glad that she was here for me to let my guard down and let it all out.

We walked to Ava’s ward and the happiness on her face when they saw each other was the highlight of my entire life.

I was glad the situation didn’t take them away from one another.

It was getting dark and the hospital didn’t want many visitors lurking around because there were other patients who needed the hospital space to be silent.

“We have to go now,” I mentioned to Ava, “but I promise to be back tomorrow before you know it.” I assured her as I kissed her hair.

Nicole did the same thing but I just couldn’t bring myself to leave the hospital with Ava watching me go so I decided we’d wait till she and Khalid were asleep.

When I was sure that Khalid and Ava were fast asleep, I finally got to leave the hospital and we all drove to my house for the night.

Leaving Nicole, her daughter and Ava’s mom inside the house, Ryan, my dad and I all took our beers out in the garden so we could catch up and get our minds off the things that had happened.

We all talked and laughed about things and I couldn’t help but smile when my father spoke about how his world tour with Ava’s mother was going.

Ryan told us about being a father and I was glad that I could also relate to everything. It felt really nice to finally have an atmosphere like this after a long time.

Laughing, “I can tell you that I’ve been spending more than I ever thought I would with Nicole and her little doppelganger came into the picture.” Ryan said as he took a swig of his beer and we joined in.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

The night was one the best I’ve had in a while as I was able to get my mind off Ava for a while. The police were still waiting for my final call and by then I will decide what to do with Aisha.

But, she had to be punished.